Construction is officially underway on a $42-million renewable natural gas (RNG) plant in Niagara Falls.

Representatives from the provincial government, Enbridge and Walker Industries in Niagara Falls announced the start of construction on October 7.

The Niagara Falls Renewable Natural Gas plant will be the largest of its kind in Ontario and will generate enough clean renewable energy from landfill waste to heat 8,750 homes across the country and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 48,000 tonnes.

"I want to congratulate Enbridge and private sector partners, Walker Industries and Comcor Environmental, for coming together to make this innovative renewable natural gas project possible," said Environment Minister Jeff Yurek. "Our government knows the private sector has the capital, capability and know-how to transform clean technology markets across Canada and we will continue to work closely with Ontario's energy sector to find more ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions efficiently and affordably."

RNG, sometimes called biogas, is generated by decomposing organic waste. The Niagara Falls plant will capture landfill gas, cleaning and transforming it into RNG that can be used interchangeably with conventional natural gas. 

The facility will employ approximately 50 people during construction, two to three new full-time skilled jobs once operational and is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

“RNG is a made-in-Ontario, carbon neutral energy source, and this investment in Niagara Falls showcases the innovative leadership of our energy sector," said Bill Walker Associate Minister of Energy. "Clearly, these types of projects are not only good for the environment, they will also contribute significantly to Ontario's economic recovery. Developing renewable natural gas production is encouraged in our government's Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan and we look forward to exploring further opportunities in the future."

The Niagara Falls project marks Enbridge’s third RNG partnership. The firm has also teamed up with the City of Hamilton to fuel its city buses and helped the City of Toronto reduce fuel costs by as much as 20 percent by fueling its fleet of 150 solid waste collection trucks. 

“Enbridge Gas is investing in clean energy solutions across multiple markets that improve energy efficiency and lower emissions as we transition to a clean energy future," said Cynthia Hansen, executive vice president & president, gas distribution & storage.

With regulatory support, some utilities across Canada have set ambitious RNG goals, targeting a five-percent blend of RNG in all-natural gas streams by 2025 and 10 percent by 2030. This would result in a 14-megatonne reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, or the equivalency of taking 3.1 million cars off the road.  

Enbridge is considering additional investments in RNG projects throughout Canada to help meet these goals and further reduce its emissions.